The hall shook with laughter, music, and the clinking of golden goblets. Hundreds of torches burned bright against stone walls, throwing light over banners dyed red with the crest of Kael Draven, Warlord of the East. He sat at the head of the table, a tall man with black hair tied at his nape, broad shoulders wrapped in armor still stained with the blood of war.Ten years of battles. Ten years of blood. And tonight, it was done. The enemy king knelt in chains outside these walls, his empire broken, his crown already crushed beneath Kael’s boot."To victory!" shouted a soldier, slamming his goblet against the table.The cheer rose, loud and raw, like a beast that had been fed too long on war. Men sang, women danced, and the scent of roasted meat filled the air. It was a feast worthy of legends, a night meant to crown Kael not just as warlord, but as the man who would soon be king.Beside him, his wife Serenya sat in a gown of silver and black. Her beauty was as sharp as a blade—long pa

The night wind was sharp when Kael slipped out of the orphanage gates. The wooden boards groaned as they closed behind him, but no one stopped him.No one ever cared where the orphans went. They were rats in the eyes of the city—unwanted, unseen, unprotected.But tonight, a rat would bare its fangs.Kael adjusted the hood of his torn cloak as he walked toward the market streets. The faint light of torches flickered against the stone walls, the smell of sour ale and piss hanging in the air.His thoughts burned with the words still floating before his eyes.[Beginner’s Quest: Spill First Blood.][Requirement: Kill an enemy within 24 hours.][Reward: +10 Strength, Beginner’s Weapon.][Failure: -50% Stats for 7 Days.]The System was merciless. It did not give him the chance to rest, to grow slowly, to hide. It demanded blood.And Kael understood why.Power was not given. It was taken.If he wanted to stand again as a warlord, if he wanted Serenya’s throat beneath his blade and Darius’s sc

The orphanage creaked in the silence of midnight. Most of the children lay asleep on their thin mats, their breathing heavy, their dreams filled with hunger and fear.But Kael was not asleep.He sat on his bed, the Devil’s Dagger resting across his knees, its crimson glow faint under the pale silver light of the moon. His eyes were sharp, his thoughts restless.The System’s message still floated before him.[Side Quest: Spill Blood Under the Moon.][Requirement: Kill an enemy before dawn.][Reward: +15 BP, Skill Upgrade.]Kael’s chest rose and fell steadily. He could feel the System pressing against his mind, whispering, demanding.“Kill. Feed me. Do not waste the night.”His hand tightened around the dagger. He had spilled blood earlier, but the hunger of the System was endless. It wanted more.And so did he.This wasn’t just about points. It wasn’t just about quests. It was about his path. The boy who had once cowered under Brann’s fists was gone. Tonight, he would prove it.A creak

The moon hung low above the city, silver light spilling through the cracked roof of the orphanage. Most of the children slept in silence, their breathing shallow, their dreams restless after the blood that had been spilled.But Kael was awake.He sat on the edge of his bed, the Devil’s Dagger resting across his lap. Its faint crimson glow pulsed like a heartbeat, casting thin shadows across his sharp features. His eyes were half-closed, his thoughts lingering on the path ahead.The System’s demand still echoed in his mind.[Main Quest: Path of the Devil.][Requirement: Gain 3 loyal subordinates within 30 days.][Progress: 0/3.]It was clear. If he was to walk the Devil’s path, he could not walk it alone. He would need blades, eyes, shadows bound to his will.The door creaked. Kael’s eyes opened instantly. His hand closed on the dagger.But it was not an enemy.A thin figure slipped inside, her bare feet silent on the floor. Her tangled black hair fell over her thin face, but her eyes…

The city slept under a pale, silver moon, its alleys quiet except for the occasional scuff of boots or the hiss of rats scavenging in the shadows. But not all eyes were closed that night.Hidden behind a stack of wooden crates near the orphanage, a small pair of eyes watched the events that had unfolded. A boy no older than ten crouched in the darkness, heart hammering in his chest. He had seen it all—the crimson spray, the lifeless body, the glint of the Devil’s Dagger in Lira’s trembling hands.His breath caught, but he did not move. Fear anchored him in place, though a flicker of curiosity kept his gaze fixed on Kael and Lira.Kael sensed it immediately. Not the boy’s body, which was small, weak, and insignificant, but the disturbance in the air—the faint ripple of fear and hesitation. The System’s voice whispered inside his mind.[Alert: Witness Detected.][Recommended Action: Recruit or eliminate witness.]Kael’s eyes narrowed as he turned toward the alley. “Interesting,” he murm